Noel Streatfeild Book Collection! ☺️💝📚

Happy March, Friends! 

I hope you're not sick of seeing another book collection post - lol! I couldn't resist sharing the (current) Noel Streatfeild books in my little home library. (Pssst...I'm hoping to share my Susan Scarlett book collection soon, too. I'm almost done reading all 12 Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow editions—woo!) 

There's something very special about Noel Streatfeild stories...they're heartfelt, family-rich, cozy, real, and full of authentic characters you feel like you know (or want to know). Sometimes I feel frustrated with the "baddies" (usually selfish, pompous, close-minded individuals), but things always seem to turn out alright—and that's why I love her books. 

I would love to say that I know a great deal about this lovely, spirited and incredibly talented author, but I only know the smallest amount (at the moment!) You should definitely check out her Wikipedia page to learn more about her fascinating life!

Today, Liz (@pony.books) and I are so excited to do a collab post on Instagram sharing all of our updated Noel Streatfeild treasures for Book Friday Friday!

I really loved my collab last year with Sue (@myownbookjourneys) last year, too! She has the BEST vintage editions—I'm still drooling over them in a serious way! 😍❤️📚

I also wanted to thank Beth of Small Home Comforts for inspiring me to keep reading more NS books this year! Her hashtag of #yearwithstreatfeild2026 is so fun and includes a wonderful variety of titles. I'm following along this year and I hope you will, too!

BOOK RATINGS:

(These are listed in the order that I read them. Only one book I've read as a child. The rest were read in my late 40s until now. Also, you can also find my full reviews of these books on Goodreads!) 

Ballet Shoes 5🌟 (child), 3.5🌟 (adult)
Saplings 3🌟
The Bell Family/Family Shoes 4🌟
A Vicarage Family 4.5🌟
Caldicott Place 3🌟
Apple Bough 4🌟
Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories 4🌟
The Growing Summer 3.5🌟
Thursday's Child 4🌟
New Town/New Shoes 4🌟
Noel Streatfeild's Holiday Stories 4🌟
Christmas with the Chrystals 3.5🌟
The House in Cornwall 4.5🌟
Skating Shoes 5🌟
Theatre Shoes 5🌟
Movie Shoes/The Painted Garden 3.75🌟 
The First Book of Ballet 4.75🌟
Dancing Shoes 4🌟   

2026/2027 TBR:

• Aunt Clara
• The Years of Grace 
• Circus Shoes
• Tennis Shoes
• Party Shoes/Party Frock 
• By Special Request
• The Children of Primrose Lane 
• The Gemma Series
• Birthday Book

 

WISHLIST:

• Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Annual
• Mothering Sunday 
• It Pays to Be Good
• The Winter is Past 
• Noel Streatfeild: A Biography 
• Judith
• Caroline England
• The Whicharts 
• I Ordered a Table for Six
• Tea by the Nursery Fire
• The Maitlands 
• Gemma and Gemma & Sisters 
• Parson's Nine
• Grass in Piccadilly  

NOTE ON FIRST PHOTO IN POST: The photo in top left picture frame was printed out from the National Portrait Gallery website. (Photo by Bassano Ltd.) The photo in the lower right gold picture frame was printed out from Getty Images website. This photo features Noel Streatfeild autographs a copy of her book 'The Years of Grace' for actress Barbara Murray (1929 - 2014), circa 1950. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.)

HELPFUL LINKS: 

•  Royal Literary Fund 
•  Streatfeild: The Story of a Life by Susan Peak 
•  Books for Keeps
•  Persephone Books
•  Encyclopedia.com
•  Dean Street Press (for Susan Scarlett)

Wishing you the most wonderful weekend, sweet friends! Let me know your favorite book(s) by Noel Streatfeild in the comments below! 💕❄️🤗❄️💕

Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration! 🤩✨💖🎬

Happy Publication Day to 4 NEW Dean Street Press biographies by Sheridan Morley 🤩✨

 "I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally. I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seem to have accomplished far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it. " - Audrey Hepburn from Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." - Audrey Hepburn

"I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another one, and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration! 

✨ Sparkling writing 
✨ Easy to read
✨ Addictively enjoyable 
✨ Excellent choice of chapter divisions/subjects 

This book was absolutely wonderful and incredibly charming! I adored Sheridan Morely’s tone and the way he described Audrey’s life. This is a MUST read if you love Audrey!

I’ve been a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn since I was a teen. But, it wasn’t until I was an adult (and learned more about her as a person) that I realized her incredible strength, generosity of spirit, humility, and deep love of people—especially children. 

Since then, she has been an inspiration and role model for me. I strive towards being as open-hearted, generous and brave as she was. Dear Audrey, I wish I could have met you!

MY FAVORITE MOVIES:
Roman Holiday
Sabrina
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
The Children’s Hour
Charade
The Nun’s Story
 
MY FAVORITE BOOKS ABOUT AUDREY: 
Audrey at Home
Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration
Just Being Audrey
The Audrey Hepburn Treasures
Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit
Audrey Hepburn: Portrait of an Icon

FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Gardens of the World

MORE BOOKS ABOUT/BASED ON AUDREY HEPBURN:
The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz
Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen
Enchantment by Donald Spoto

The other Dean Street Press biographies in this series include Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Oscar Wilde. 

Sprint to your local bookstore or online shop to order your copy today! You’ll absolutely love them! 🤩🌟📚

Thank you so much for sharing an advanced copy of this book to read and review, Dean Street Press! I'm endlessly grateful!

What’s your favorite Audrey Hepburn movie or book? 🤔🎬

Happy Monday, Friends! 💙❄️🤗❄️💙

D.E. Stevenson Book Collection (and Readalong)! ☺️📘💕🌸

Do you love D.E. Stevenson as much as I do? 😍📚❤️ If so, I'm co-hosting a DES Read-Along with Sabine and Niki on Instagram and we would be so happy if you'd join us! 

HELPFUL INFO:

❊ March 2026: Kate Hardy (Tentative Discussion Date March 28/29th)
❊ April 2026: The Musgraves
❊ May 2026: Five Windows 
❊ Hashtag: If you want to tag us (@babsbelovedbooks, @nikilovestoread @sabines.literary.world and @dean_street_press_ltd) in any read-along posts you share on IG, please use the hashtag #BuncleAndBeyond so we won't miss it!
❊ To Join: Simply read along with us and, if you'd like, join our IG discussions at the end of the month. No pressure to do anything else. We will share all information about the date of discussions on our IG posts. 

Lucky for us, Dean Street Press has republished 19 of D.E. Stevenson's novels for readers to enjoy! The paperback covers are gorgeous! But, if paperbacks are hard for you to read, it's so awesome that they offer e-book versions, too. Yay! (Psst...there may be two more being published at some point this year! Keep an eye out on the DSP Instagram!) 

(The website, Book Series in Order, also has additional (and interesting) information on Dorothy Emily Stevenson. Michelle (@myeclecticshelf on Instagram) also shared this very helpful 'The World of DES" website with our readalong group—thank you!)

So far, I've read 43/53 books by D.E. Stevenson...according to the lists I've found. If you see any books I'm missing—please share the title(s) below or send me a DM via Instagram! 

I'm really excited to share my vintage and republished DES editions with you! Here they are, along with titles and book ratings!

MY BOOK RATINGS:

The English Air 5🌟
Blow the Wind Southerly/The Enchanted Isle/Charlotte Fairlie 5🌟
Rochester’s Wife 5🌟
Katherine Wentworth 5🌟
Katherine’s Marriage 5🌟
The Fair Miss Fortune 5🌟
Green Money 5🌟
Young Mrs. Savage 4.5🌟
The House on the Cliff 5🌟
Blue Sapphire 5🌟
Alister and Co./It’s Nice to Be Me 5🌟 (poetry)
Sarah Morris Remembers 5🌟
Sarah's Cottage 4🌟 
Bel Lamington 4🌟
Fletcher's End 5🌟
Vittoria Cottage 5🌟
Music in the Hills 3🌟 
Winter and Rough Weather 4🌟
Anna & Her Daughters 4..5🌟

Mrs. Tim of the Regiment 5🌟
Mrs. Tim Carries On 4🌟
Mrs. Tim Gets a Job 4🌟
Mrs. Tim Flies Home 4.5🌟
The Baker’s Daughter/Miss Bun 4.5🌟
Miss Buncle’s Book 4🌟
Miss Buncle Married 4🌟
The Two Mrs. Abbots 4.5🌟
The Four Graces 4.5🌟
Gerald and Elizabeth 4🌟 
Amberwell 4🌟
Summerhills 4🌟
Celia's House 4🌟
Listening Valley 5🌟

The Young Clementina/Divorced from Reality/Miss Dean's Dilemma 4🌟
Still Glides the Stream 4🌟
Spring Magic 3🌟
The Musgraves 4🌟
Peter West 3.5🌟
Emily Dennistoun 4🌟
The Tall Stranger 4.5🌟
Rosabelle Shaw 3.75🌟
Crooked Adam 3🌟
The House of the Deer 2🌟

TBR:

Kate Hardy 
Five Windows 
The Empty World/A World in Spell
Found in the Attic 
Smouldering Fire 
Golden Days
Jean Erekin’s Secret 
Portrait of Saskin
The Starry Mantle (poetry) 
Meadow-flowers (poetry)

(Note: Some of the books in the TBR list above were also republished by Greyladies or Lume Books and, if you're lucky, can be found online via Ebay, Abebooks, ThriftBooks, Mercari, Etsy, Biblio, World of Books, or Amazon.) 

I hope February treated you well, book friends! I would love to hear your favorite DES titles! Let me know in the comments! 

I'll leave things here with a photo of the snow (at least a foot and a half and more on the way!) at our place in New Hampshire. Crossing my fingers that you'll join our D.E. Stevenson read-along for March, April and/or May! 🥰📕

Happy Reading and Tons of Hugs!! 💕❄️🤗❄️💕

Lovely Love Books 🥰💝✨❤️

Happy Valentine's Day, Friends! 😍💕💕

A wonderful Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow book by Molly Clavering!

How has February been treating you so far? It's still pretty cold here in New Hampshire 🥶❄️ (single digits at night and highs of 30s during the day) and we've still got over a foot of snow on the lawn. Trying to go to the backyard compost area is a challenge because the snow is literally up to (or over!) my knees 😂 

I've been loving chatting with Liz (@pony.books) about our upcoming trip to London in April (yippeeee!), buddy reading vintage YA and romances with Andrea (@sorrythankyou79) and talking to Gina (@gina.stanyer.books) about our planners/traveler's journals and all things cozy! 

Stories for Lovers by the British Library Women Writers Collection!

On Saturday, Ian and I are planning on going to our favorite local coffee shop (Sunny Cafe!), watching a show together (Downton Abbey...again!) and maybe getting Thai for dinner (yumm!). I'm sure Ian will also want to spend some time with his new-to-him pinball machine, Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man (Did I ever mention that Ian has an arcade/pinball/movie room in our house? See end of post for a photo of his pinball machine. Let me know if you want me to share a video or more photos of his arcade room!) and I'll probably knit on my Harry Potter-themed scarves while re-watching a favorite movie. 

Full of poignant short stories of so many lovely British Women Writers!

What are YOUR plans for V-Day this year? ☺️💓🎁 

Okay...onto the BOOKS! 

Here are all of the books in my collection that have "LOVE" in the title! I know I post a lot of these subject/season themed collections, but it's definitely a passion of mine - lol. Do you like having books organized by theme or season? I also like to organize my bookshelves by author or genre (vintage middle grade, children's, holiday, etc.). So...for now...here are my love books with ratings—I will add links to my reviews on Goodreads soon!

Beautiful Emma Bridgewater mug from Gina and Lovepop card from Ian!

LOVE BOOKS & RATINGS:  

💝 Love Comes Home by Molly Clavering 4🌟
💝 Stories for Lovers by British Library Women Writers 4.25🌟
💝 How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry 4.5🌟
💝 Paris—And My Love by Mary Burchell 4🌟

Lovely vintage Harlequin romances by Mary Burchell and some of my vintage makeup collection!

💝 The Love Child by Edith Oliver 4🌟
💝 Love by Elizabeth von Arnim 4.5🌟
💝 Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark 4.5🌟
💝 Love by Susan Branch 5🌟

Susan Branch books never fail to make me happy!

Best book everrrr! It's one of my all-time favorite books!

💝 No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym 3🌟
💝 The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford 4🌟
💝 Book Love by Debbie Tung 5🌟

Such a sweetly illustrated book about book love!

💝 Love is in the Earth by Melody 4🌟
💝 Caitlin Love Trilogy by Francine Pascal 4🌟
💝 The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman 5🌟
💝 A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott 5🌟
💝 The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love by Joan Medlicott 3🌟
💝 Paris in Love by Eloisa James 5🌟
💝 Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert 3🌟
💝 Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith 4🌟
💝 Peony in Love by Lisa See 3🌟
💝 Live with the Things You Love by Mary Randolph Carter 2🌟
💝 No Lovelier Spring by Lida Larrimore 3.5🌟

Lida Larrimore's vintage romances are so thoughtful!

The cutest book in the whole world!!

💝 Raggedy Ann: A Thank You, Please and I Love You Book by Norah Smaridge 5🌟
💝 Come Back to Me, Beloved by Kathleen Norris 5🌟

A 5🌟 Kathleen Norris novel - sooo perfect! A buddy read with Gina Stanyer.

💝 French Girl in Love by Maysie Greig 3.5🌟
💝 Odds on Love by Maysie Greig 4🌟
💝 The Laurel Bush: An Old-Fashioned Love Story by Dinah M. Craik 4.5🌟
💝 Love and Friendship by Jane Austen 3.5🌟
💝 The Book of My Beloveds by Esmerelda Little Flame 5🌟

I have poetry in this lovely book! Available on Amazon! 

💝 A Fine Romance: Falling In Love with the English Countryside by Susan Branch 5🌟
💝 Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book 3.5🌟
💝 Learning To Love Yourself by Gay Hendricks 4🌟
💝 The Last Letter from Your Lover by JoJo Moyes 5🌟
💝 The Demon Lover by Victoria Holt 3🌟
💝 The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold 4🌟
💝 Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith 3🌟
💝 Sweet Valley High books by Francine Pascal (too many to list with love in the title - lol!) generally all 3-4🌟

Love-titled books on a pink bamboo lace shawl that I knit myself!

LOVE BOOK TBR:   

Here is a list of all the books I'm hoping to read within the next year or less. Any favorite books listed here? See above photo to see some of the covers!

Photo from Dean Street Press Ltd. website. 

❤️ Love in a Mist by Susan Scarlett
❤️ First Love by Gay Head    
❤️ Look Back with Love by Dodie Smith
❤️ All for Love by Tasha Tudor
❤️ The Lovely Day by Dorothy Evelyn Smith  
❤️ The Long Love by Pearl S. Buck
❤️ How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh  
❤️ The Love Child by Fiona Hill
❤️ A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen
❤️ Love for Lydia by H.E. Bates 

I would LOVE to know your favorite books with "love" in the title or any books that just give you that loving feeling 😊💓 

Wishing you the most wonderful Valentine's Day (no matter who you're with or even if you've taken a self-care day of your own!) and sending lots and lots of love from meeeeee! 

As always, I'll try to keep this list updated as the months (or years!) go by. If you ever use my list for anything fun, please tag me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or anywhere on social media. You can also email me: babsbelovedbooks at gmail dot com! ☺️✨🌸 

Ian's new-to-him 1980s pinball machine is so cool!

Ian playing his new Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man pinball! 

Favorite Winter Books - Vintage Edition! 🤩❄️💙📘

Happy Mid-Winter! 🤩💙❄️✨

I'm really excited to share my winter book collection! 😊 These are all of the books I own, read or want-to-read with “winter” in the title (or with a winter-themed cover.) Do you see any favorites here? 🤔📚

Books with Winter in the Title: Photo A

I’m MOST excited to read Winter's Grace by Ruby Ferguson!! Yay! 🥰 (Marion @fortheloveofbooks75 was so incredibly kind to ship this book to me from the UK! Thank you, dear friend! 💕)

Winter in the Title: Photo B

WINTER TITLED BOOK RATINGS:

❄️ The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4🌟
❄️ Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher  5🌟
❄️ Winter and Rough Weather by D.E. Stevenson 4🌟
❄️ Winter at Thrush Green by Miss Read 5🌟
❄️ Stories for Winter 3.5🌟
❄️ Winter Carnival by Frances Pascal 3🌟
❄️ Winter Spirits by Bridget Collins, etc. 4.25🌟
❄️ A Week in Winter by Marcia Willett 4.5🌟 
❄️ Winter Story by Jill Barklem 4.5🌟
❄️ Honey Bunch: Her First Winter at Snowtop by Helen Louise Thorndyke 4🌟
❄️ The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise by Riel Nason 5🌟
❄️ The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz 4🌟 
❄️ A Winter Away by Elizabeth Fair 4🌟
❄️ The Willows in Winter by William Horwood 5🌟 (a gift from Caro at carosbookcase 😍)

READ, BUT DO NOT OWN:
☃️ Winter Cottage by Carol Ryrie Brink 4.5🌟
☃️ Iris in Winter by Elizabeth Cadell 3🌟

The Perfect Winter Children's Book!

WINTER TITLED BOOK TBR:

💙 The Woods in Winter by Stella Gibbons
💙 Winter Kitchen by Louise Andrews Kent
💙 Winter Wedding by Betty Neels
💙 Winterwood by Dorothy Eden
💙 A Winter Love Story by Betty Neels
💙 Emma in Winter by Penelope Farmer
💙 Jean’s Winter with the Warners by Christine Whiting Parmenter

One of the first Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow books I ever read!

 
WINTER TITLED BOOK WISHLIST:

❄️ Mary Jane Winter Sports by Clara Ingram Judson 
❄️ The Bobbey Twins’ Wonderful Winter Secret by Laura Lee Hope 

Now, here are the books in my collection that have winter-y covers, but don't have "winter" in the title. 

Wintery Covers: Photo A

WINTERY COVER BOOKS:

🌨 Ice on the Lawn by Jill Stevens 3.75🌟 (the sweetest gift from Carla @c.brown685!💗)
🌨 White Holiday by Viola Bayley 4.5🌟
🌨 Rosemary by Josephine Lawrence 4🌟
🌨 Shoulder the Sky/Winter in Rough Weather by D.E. Stevenson 4🌟
🌨 The Joy of the Snow by Elizabeth Goudge 5🌟

Wintery Covers: Photo B

 WINTERY COVERS TBR:

💙 Angel on Skis by Betty Cavanna (a buddy read with Andrea @sorrythankyou79 🥳)
💙 Brown Door Venture by Pamela Brown (a thoughtful gift from Carla @c.brown685!💝)
💙 Concerning Casey by Eve Bennett (a wonderful gift from Andrea @sorrythankyou79 💙)
💙 Practically Seventeen by Rosamond du Jardin
💙 The Jennifer Gift by Eunice Young Smith
💙 The Unfinished House by Margaret Sutton
💙 The Great Blizzard by Albert E. Idell
💙 Bobbsey Twins: Merry Days Indoors and Out by Laura Lee Hope

Riel Nason's books are sooo wonderful! I've loved both in the series so far! 5🌟

I hope to update this post every year with new books, photos and ratings! If you have any favorite winter-themed books or winter-titled suggestions for me, please comment below or send me an email! Thank you! 🤩

The best cozy books plus vegan marshmallow squares and a cup of lemon balm tea!

I had to add a couple more photos of wintery books...and my new-to-me Brambly Hedge Winter teacup and snack plate set! Along with the Brambly Hedge Winter Story and A Visit to Brambly Hedge (another awesome Christmas gift from Caro @carosbookcase! ❤️) 

A thoughtful and imaginative contemporary middle grade book!

Here's our house after the snowstorm last weekend...it's so magical!

Warm hugs to you, lovely friends! 💕☃️🤗☃️💕  

Our New Hampshire home in winter!

P.S. Did I mention that my son, Benji, was born on December 23rd and his middle name is Winter! 😍 (This is a pic of him on his 1st birthday...awww!) 

Baby Ben Winter House